OVTA Welcomes Approved Destination Status from China
OVTA Welcomes Approved Destination Status from China
(Pembroke, ON) – The Ottawa Valley Tourist Association (OVTA) welcomes the Government of China’s recent decision to grant Canada Approved Destination Status, a designation which will make it easier for Chinese travellers to visit Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the announcement in Beijing on December 3rd following his meeting with Wen Jiabo, Premier of China.
Canada’s Approved Destination Status means that Chinese citizens will have an easier time obtaining tourist visas to travel to Canada for leisure purposes. The agreement also means that Canada may actively market its tourism products in China, and Chinese travel agents may promote group travel tours in Canada.
“This announcement is good news for the Ottawa Valley,” states Mitchell Wilkie, Manager of the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association. “The increased marketing opportunities, along with the facilitation of Chinese travellers’ to book group tours and obtain the necessary documentation to enter to the country, will translate into more business for local tourism operators.”
The OVTA’s website, www.OttawaValley.travel, will play a large part in attracting this new group of tourists. According to the latest survey done by the Nielsen China Outbound Travel Monitor, the Internet is the most popular medium for Chinese travellers seeking information about potential travel destinations. Thanks to the OVTA’s comprehensive and dynamic website, which is also available in simplified Chinese, the Ottawa Valley is well positioned to attract Chinese travelers to the area. China currently ranks in the top ten list of countries visiting the OVTA website, following Canada and the United States.
In 2008, Canada hosted approximately 159,000 Chinese travellers, a 5.3% increase from the year before. The visitors had the highest average length of stay in Canada (28 nights) and spent more than visitors from any other country, averaging $1,648.51 per trip. According to a Conference Board of Canada survey, Approved Destination Status is expected to increase the annual rate of travel to Canada from China by up to 50% by 2015.
The OVTA is the official destination marketing organization for the Upper Ottawa Valley and proudly represents more than 230 tourism businesses, comprised of attractions and events, accommodation, dining and retail establishments, rafting companies and outfitters, artists and galleries, as well as media and industry suppliers.
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